More than half of all Australians aged 15 to 64 years now have non-school qualifications*, according to results released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The results show that in May 2004, 51% or 6,699,200 Australians aged 15 to 64 years had at least one non-school qualification (e.g. bachelor degree, TAFE certificate), up from 39% in May 1994.

The increase was mainly in people whose highest non-school qualification was a bachelor degree or above (12% in 1994 to 19% in 2004).

The survey also showed that people with qualifications tended to have better employment outcomes. Of people with a non-school qualification, 81% were employed, compared to 61% without a non-school qualification. Furthermore, employed people with a non-school qualification were more likely to work full-time (77%), than those without (64%).

Of the 2,333,200 people aged 15 to 64 years studying for a qualification in May 2004, 28% were studying for a bachelor degree. Just under one-quarter (24%) of these were aged 15 to 19 years, and 48% were aged 20 to 24 years.

In May 2004, approximately 357,600 people were enrolled in study leading to a qualification and had not been enrolled in 2003. Of this group, 58% were female. Just under one-third (32%) were aged 25 to 34 years and 21% were aged 20 to 24 years.

Further details are available in Education and Work, Australia, May 2004(cat. no. 6227.0).